One of the original Lakota Sioux names for "Mount Rushmore" is Cougar Mountain (Igmútȟaŋka Pahá) It was also known by the Lakota as "The Six Grandfathers" (Tȟuŋkášila Šákpe). American settlers knew it variously as Cougar Mountain, Sugarloaf Mountain, Slaughterhouse Mountain, and Keystone Cliffs. Unfortunately this spectacularly beautiful rock face was, shall we say, "defaced" in the 1920's and 30's, in an effort to bring tourism to the area. As if this wasn't enough in its natural state ...

Love grandfather on the far left!

Thank you for posting this.

underwhelming it was.

The really only good part was walking the path with my 4 year old grandson at his speed, looking at the little critters darting around, cool rocks, plants, etc.

I did go to the Chief Crazy Horse site. Awesome museum. Much better place to visit.

It was desecrated for tourism? It was far more interesting and beautiful in its original state.

That is why the region is called the Black Hills. It is just a few hundred feet above the surrounding area. The only reason anyone even knows it is there is because of the carvings. It looks much bigger in pictures than in real life. Both Obama and H. Clinton visited there during their campaigns. Obama joked it was going to be hard to put his face there because of his big ears.

Sorry but without the carvings it would just be a bunch of rocks that no one would give two cents for.

I know because I am someone. I first saw the Black Hills in 1969, and have been fortunate enough to have been able to return there several times. Each time I find them stunningly beautiful, a serene escape from the relative seeming desolation of the countryside that surrounds them. Context is everything. The Black Hills are a verdant sanctuary in the midst of very harsh surroundings, with the Bad Lands themselves not that much more than a stone's throw away. It is easy to feel why they are sacred to the Lakota.

I have seen Mt Rushmore several times and it is impressive in an obvious way to have carved out such large figures from a cliff face. But it is not why I have continued to feel drawn to the Black Hills. Fortunately they are still expansive enough that it is possible to lose yourself within them in their natural state without having to confront the work of men. I find the original rock face of the Six Grandfathers to have been exquisite. This is the first time I have seen a photo of it and I am appreciative that photos of it do exist, but I would have much preferred having viewed it in it's natural state rather than staring at Mt. Rushmore.

I have no doubt however that more tourist dollars get spent now in the Black Hills because Mt. Rushmore is there. The Lakota however value the Black Hills infinitely more than gold.

floored by that one.

Are you willing to give it back?

I'm a slave descendant.

This land was never my ancestors' land to give or take, they were brought here in bondage and sold like livestock.

Anyplace in the Americas was stolen from someone at some time. Everyplace.

is that you posed a stupid fucking question.

Are you willing to give it back?

I'm researching ways to make it happen, or something similar enough to be meaningful.

just yuck.

The Black Hills are a mountain range and rise 3000-4000 feet above the surrounding plains.

Mt. Rushmore is a few hundred feet, at most, above the surrounding area. If you call that a mountain then you are from the east of the Mississsippi.

I'll go with the U.S. Geological Survey over some random internet contrarian.

So what's an actual mountain and what's a hill, Mr Geology?

I'm sticking with geologists, over whoever you are.

Come on, what's a mountain?

What's a hill?

If you've ever climbed either, you should know.

I have climbed the highest free standing mountain in the world. You can look it up if you wish. The UK and USA used to define a hill as less than 1000 feet above the surrounding area (which Mt. Rushmore is). That definition was abandoned in the mid 20 century and now there is no recognized difference by the U.S. Geologic Survey.

You undercut you're own argument, Mr. Mountain Decider.

The Black Hills are a mountain range, no matter what some low-budget Edmund Hillary has to say.

Maybe the turd would like to establish his National Park of Statues by having the faces REMOVED from Mount Rushmore and relocated to his "park".

Think it can't be done? Tell that to the Egyptians.

Apparently the concept of The Ugly American has been around a lot longer than we think. It is so typically "American" to take what we want, no matter who it belongs to. That is how we started the country, and then BUILT it on the backs of slaves.

Yet for some, there is not one iota of shame in that.

Manhattan?

That picture (in the news, not shown in the OP) of Trump looking back at the ruined mountain as fighter jets fly over is a framed masterpiece of suckage. I don't think it exactly confers admiration on the carvings. Quite the opposite.

whipped out their red, white and blue wanker and urinated all over this sacred place. It was quite deliberate.